Wednesday 27 August 2008

Great Expectations !


Late in the spring mama and I went to a church youth fund raiser. I got a car wash she got two bell pepper plants - she thought! :o( !! Mama worked up a nice little plot of soil next to the house and planted her bell pepper plants - she had high expectations of nice big green bell peppers. I even think she talked to the plants and I know she whispered a prayer that they would survive and produce nice green bell peppers - did not happen like she thought and prayed for! I discovered the 'red chili peppers' first - broke the news to mama and she was upset, extremely disappointed, and wanted her 50 cents back! Her expectations had not been met!

How are you doing with your expectations? A few disappointments? Remember God is in control! sometimes He "surprises" us with results. Sometimes our children do not exactly make the choices we would expect - however can't we turn them over to God and allow him to take care of the red hot chili peppers?!!

On Friday Darla - Overcomer, Scott, Trina and Derek (check papa's blog roll) are coming to mama and papa's house for Labor day weekend. We are excited! I wonder if they think we are green bell peppers ??? What do you think ?? heh heh!!

Stop by - we may have some nice homemade red hot chili to serve you !!

46 comments:

Heather said...

Yes! We absolutely can turn our children and every other thing in our lives over to Him. He cares about every detail. Even our chili peppers;)

Love ya!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Heather - mama does not like chili peppers in her life - me, pour it on!

Keetha Broyles said...

This made my mind go a slightly different direction - - - often when we pray we are EXPECTING some very specific answer. God is FAR more creative than we are and many times he meets our need, but in such an unexpected way that we nearly MISS it.

Indian Lake Papa said...

I have to admit Keetha that God has definitely given me some chili peppers when I expected bell peppers - He sure can be creative! :o)

Anonymous said...

Love you Papa and Mama..can't wait to visit...and ready to be still..

Mama, maybe God gave you those chilis to give to someone as a witnessing tool...mmmmm or for papa to eat! i am sure I will not think you are a bell pepper! hahaha

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla - mama is definitely my hot pepper! lol She is a winner! we are both very excited !! So anxious to meet your family.

Robin said...

And sometimes when we get what we didn't expect it turns out to be better than what we had hoped for...

I'm jealous of everyone meeting...

Unknown said...

mama and papa, you will never meet a more beautiful family than scott and darlas! i am not kidding. everything about them, to me, is perfect. their love for each other is SO evident. they love to laugh. they love to talk about God and all His goodness. they're interested, genuinely, in you and others. they're real!!! and they will leave a big mark on you and steal you hearts. trust me!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - Jake & Jess plan to drop by on the 2nd, They just asked us - we said you bet of course! Stop by if you can - ha! We shall meet some day!

Tam we are very excited about Scott & Darla and family - be here tomorrow! Then they can meet my hot pepper mama! Expectations are high - we feel like we know them already.

Anonymous said...

You talk about Expectations...Brent is talking about perceptions...

What happens when our expectations are disappointed by our perception?

Not saying this will happen when you meet Darla's family...

Sometimes we build up expectations so much that we loose site of the reality of the situation.

As ckroboth said to Nor the other day. "Don’t worry I know you are imperfect so I won’t be surprised when you let me down, I promise… ;) I will just love you."

The only person that we can expect to be perfect and live up to that perception is Christ.

Oh.. and ckroboth.. Says "Thank you for all your prayers, and love to both you and Mama!!"

Indian Lake Papa said...

Chicken Broth - I have a good broth story! I had pneumonia one time chicken broth was a good part of that recovery! Expectations of mine are usually quite accurate about people - my career was responsible for that - my job and life were on the line. I also learned not to be surprised if you do get fooled. I am very trusting - I will give you trust. If you goof it up, I take it away. I then give you trust that I can control. Tell Carl we are praying for him. Will covet his & your prayers this weekend.

Carol said...

I talked with Mama yesterday. Both she and Papa are so tickled about having company this weekend...a fellow blogger and family. I see Papa out washing down the lawn furniture, and Mama has been sprucing up the house. They are both grinning from ear to ear. This is going to be a special weekend for them. I hope all of you bloggers get to meet Mama and Papa in this lifetime...otherwise look for them across the river when you get home!

Jake and Jess said...

please save some of those hot peppers for me!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Carol - thanks for the vote of confidence! Stop by during the weekend and meet Darla and family! See you around the camp!

Jess & Jake - I will save the hot peppers for you on Tuesday! Anxious to hug you both!

linda said...

That is funny, Papa! I love that story! I read it the first time and I thought, wait...what did I miss? What was wrong? So I read it again and realized that Mama wanted the other peppers and got the red hot ones. So then I'm thinking....maybe God wanted to put some spice into Mama's life? (sorry, I couldn't resist)....
Tell Mama hi!
Thanks for the cute story and laugh. :)
Linda :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Linda - mama was upset! she is not a hot pepper lover! She actually got two pepper plants - the other is a banana pepper - still not what she wanted! Her expectations were not met - she will be cautious the next time - I suspect going to church to buy pepper plants is not high on her list of priorities!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Linda - i guess i am needed to be invited to get in to your blog now.

Anonymous said...

God is the spice of life!

Blessings!
Lacy

linda said...

Papa, I'm sorry! Robin was sending you the info so I could add you to my invite list. You didn't get it? I'll ask her to resend it. I didn't have your email address to add it.
I wasn't comfortable having it set like it was. My kids were watching me with it, and I didn't want them to get any ideas of having theirs set like that also. :O
Any of Robin's friends are friends of mine, so I hope you will still come there. :)

Robin said...

Ok...so I'm jealous again... Give Jake and Jess a hug from me. I miss them.

Robin said...

You know you have Jessica to thank for all your blogging friends :) because you probably wouldn't have ventured forth were it not for her blog :)

Robin said...

Actually I probably wouldn't have either...it was talking with you and Jessica via her blog that got me involved and then I took the risk with that first blog...

So thanks Jessica and Jake too!

Robin said...

Linda - I was waiting for an email from you and I haven't received it yet... so I will just send Papa an email with your info and the two of you can hook up from there :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - Jake & Jessica were without a doubt the ones that got me started. Jessica is my first "adopted" daughter. She was why i called myself Indian Lake Papa. We met here at Indian Lake and I always considered her "my daughter" still do - I just wish she would make me a grandpa. lol You are the one who gave me the desire to do my own blog site.

Razor - I LOVE spice - mama does not! lol

Linda - I just got an email from Robin - I will check it out!

linda said...

Robin, my email has been acting up a bit the last few days. Maybe that is why. Or maybe because you didn't know which account to check for my email, lol. (since I have like 200 email addresses??)...Thanks Papa! And I am glad to see all of you have gotten to know each other so well and have so much to share. I think that's great! I look forward in continuing to be part of those shares, as they are so encouraging! :)

Robin said...

Linda - haha on the 200 email addresses I only have 8 for you in my main email and 4 in my blogger email (of course the 4 in my blogger email are all incorrect). I'm thinking you may have had 200 email addresses in the last 8 1/2 years :) but I've deleted most of them :)

All that to say I emailed your email address to Papa and he should have it now...

Papa if you don't get it let me know and I will try again :)

Robin said...

Papa - Jessica is one of those special forever friends. I'm so glad that God sent her to my neck of the woods for a few years. Having her here was a highlight and just being in her presence always brought a smile :)

Robin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - I agreee with you both times! lol

Linda - I just sent you an email.

linda said...

I invited you with your email, Papa. :)

Sorry for the trouble. :O

Maybe Mama should make me eat some of those red hot chili peppers raw, for punishment. :D

linda said...

Chicken Broth, I love you name! :)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Linda - i think we are in business now!

rk said...

This motivated me to put peppers on the grocery shopping list!

xoxox,
Roxx

Indian Lake Papa said...

Roxx - why? Just stop by and mama will show you where you can pick some fresh ones at no charge!

CrossView said...

I'm soooo jealous - but in a good way! I KNOW you all will have a wonderful time! =D

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - they are half way here! Should get here about 3PM today! We are all excited - hope to see you again too!

Anonymous said...

I pray you guys have a great time together. I think you're a red hot chili pepper(and that's a good thing)!!!

hmmmm...sometimes metaphors work, sometimes they don't

Indian Lake Papa said...

Thanks badguy - they should be here in a few hours - then the fun begins! Maybe! ha!

CrossView said...

Now that the intro's are over, you should all be having a wonder-filled time of fellwoship!

And you can't get rid of me... =P

CrossView said...

And could you read that as "fellowship"??!! =P

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview - we are having a blast! today will be fun! Big surprise here in an hour or so!!

Anonymous said...

Forty-one comments!

I have never had that many comments! Not even close!

Blessings!
Lacy

RazorFamilyFarms.com

Indian Lake Papa said...

Razor- Ha! Its all mama - not papa! She is my asset! i love mama! SHe is so much fun!

Tanya said...

Sounds good, I would be there if I was not up to my knees in home repair. Have a great Labor Day. And God is good, His expectations is all I need, for He provideds all of my needs. You could keep the red peppers out, I am not such a red pepper fan, but I love chili. Love Tanya

Anonymous said...

Home from two weeks of camping. I don't dare show hubby that beautiful picture of the chili peppers. He loves them and I know he would drive up and steal them off the vine. I'm sure he would be happy that mama's hopes for green peppers got mixed up!!!

We don't always get what we would like to have, but what we do with what we get is what counts....share them with someone who likes them!! And while you are at it, share the Good News of Jesus Christ and his love for all!!!

Hope you are having a great time with your visitors. Enjoy!

Janis

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tanya - stop by someday! Mama & papa have lots of room and love company. I will make us some chili!

Janis - it has been a great weekend - in a couple of hours we all go to church together right here on the camp ground. Have a grat Lord's day. I have another blogger coming Tuesday - Jake & Jess - they want those peppers! :o)